Electrical Device for Emanating a Volatile Liquid

Abstract

A device for evaporating a volatile liquid from a refill, the device comprising: a housing; securing means within said housing to releasably secure the refill to the device; electrical heating means within said housing; and chimney means within said housing having a lower aperture and an upper aperture to define a channel therebetween to the exterior of the device; wherein the refill for use with the device comprises: a reservoir portion for holding a quantity of volatile liquid; and a wick having a proximal end within the reservoir portion substantially adjacent a base of said reservoir portion and having a distal end extending above the reservoir portion; wherein the device is configured such that, in use, the securing means are adapted to hold the refill such that the distal end of the wick is located within the chimney means; characterised in that the chimney means are rotatable relative to the housing and said means have a continuous wall between the lower and upper apertures wherein said wall is of a varying thickness.

1 . A device adapted to evaporate a volatile liquid from a refill, the device comprising:
 a housing;   securing means within said housing to releasably secure the refill to the device;   electrical heating means within said housing; and   chimney means within said housing has a lower aperture and an upper aperture to define a channel therebetween to the exterior of the device;   wherein the refill for use with the device comprises:   a reservoir portion for holding a quantity of volatile liquid; and   a wick having a proximal end within the reservoir portion substantially adjacent a base of said reservoir portion and having a distal end extending above the reservoir portion;   wherein the device is configured such that, in use, the securing means are adapted to hold the refill such that the distal end of the wick is located within the chimney means;   wherein the chimney means are rotatable relative to the housing and said means have a continuous wall between the lower and upper apertures wherein said walls are of a varying thickness.   
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the chimney means further includes an exterior surface having a central longitudinal axis, and an interior surface having a central longitudinal axis, wherein the exterior surface of the chimney means is substantially circular in cross-section and the interior surface of the chimney means is substantially circular in cross-section, and wherein the central longitudinal axis of said interior surface is parallel to but offset from the central longitudinal axis of said exterior surface. 
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the interior surface of the chimney means has a cross-section that is curved with a continually increasing radius. 
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 3 , wherein the beginning of the curve having the smaller radius is joined to the end of the curve having the larger radius by a radially straight line. 
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the interior surface of the chimney means is shaped such that at least one portion of the chimney means is thicker between the interior and exterior surfaces than at least one other portion of the chimney means. 
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the interior surface of the chimney means is substantially circular in cross-section and the exterior surface of the chimney means is substantially circular in cross-section, and wherein the central longitudinal axis of said exterior surface is parallel to but offset from the central longitudinal axis of said interior surface. 
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the exterior surface of the chimney means has a cross-section that is curved with a continually increasing radius. 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the beginning of the curve having the smaller radius is joined to the end of the curve having the larger radius by a radially straight line. 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the exterior surface of the chimney means is shaped such that at least one portion of the chimney means is thicker between the interior and exterior surfaces than at least one other portion of the chimney means. 
   
   
       10 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein interior surface is sized/shaped such that it does not make direct contact, in use, with the wick of the refill. 
   
   
       11 . A device according  claim 2 , wherein the cross-sectional thickness of the chimney wall varies between a thicker to thinner portion of the wall in a ratio of 3:2-10:1. 
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the chimney means is made from a plastics material. 
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein control means are provided to permit a user of the device to rotate the chimney means. 
   
   
       14 . A device adapted to evaporate a volatile liquid, the device comprising:
 a refill comprising a reservoir portion for holding a quantity of volatile liquid and a wick having a proximal end within the reservoir portion substantially adjacent a base of said reservoir portion and having a distal end extending above the reservoir portion;   a housing;   electrical heating means within said housing;   chimney means within said housing having a lower aperture and an upper aperture to define a channel therebetween to the exterior of the device; and   securing means within said housing to releasably secure the refill to the device such that the distal end of the wick is located within the chimney means;   wherein the chimney means are rotatable relative to the housing and said means have a continuous wall between the lower and upper apertures wherein said walls are of a varying thickness.   
   
   
       15 . A method of varying the rate of emanation of a quantity of volatile liquid, wherein the method comprises:
 engaging a refill with a device according to  claim 1 ,   said refill comprising a reservoir portion for holding a quantity of volatile liquid and a wick having a proximal end within the reservoir portion substantially adjacent a base of said reservoir portion and having a distal end extending above the reservoir portion;   applying electrical power to the device;   effecting rotation of the chimney means to alter the heat applied to said wick.   
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . (canceled)